Rotary sprayer



Och-23, 1934. i h H. c. I AssEN 1,977,882

ROTARY SPRAYER Filed July 15, 193:5

ATTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 23, 1934 isizssz v ROTARY SPRAYER .Harry C. Lassen,

Food Machinery acorporation of San Jose, Calif., assignoil to Corporation, Delaware San Jose, Calif.,

Application July 13, 1933, serial No. 680,167

s claims. (cl. 29e- 69) The present invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in the construction of rotary sprayers such asare operable byfthe vflow of liquid therethrough.'

The liability of rotary sprayers to stick or bind, particularly after periods of idleness, and thereby interfere with or prevent automatic starting when the liquid is next supplied to them, is well known, and under some circumstances avery considerable force may be required vto overcome starting resistance as, for example, where the sprayer is required to, operate under high Vliquid pressures'or tospray certain kinds of liquid mixtures or solutions.

As illustrative of one instance in which rotary sprayers may be required to operate under such conditions, reference may be had to United States LettersPatent No. 1,912,209, issued May 30, 1933, to myself and Henry Dahl `jointly, wherein is described the use of rotary sprayers adapted to discharge spray liquids into greenhouses in the form of a finely divided fog-like mist to control .temperature or apply liquid insecticidal or fungicidal agents to the plants. The breaking upor atomization of the liquid to a suflicient neness for the purpose requires that it be delivered to the spray nozzles under comparatively high pressures, which may range as high as 400 or even 600 pounds per square inch, and it will be appre- .ciated that such-high pressuresvcause great -frictional resistance in the bearing members of the sprayer which, in addition to the inertia of the parts, must be overcome in order to start, rotation. -Moreoven the initial starting impulse required is frequently greatly increased when spray liquids such as insecticides or fungicides are used which may contain more or less sediment,or may leave a crystalline or gummy residuum when evaporated, so that duringperiods of` idleness, after being used with sucha liquid, the liquid may evaporate from the interiorrof the sprayer leaving a deposit of sediment, crystals, or `gummy residue around the bearings, which causes them to stick or bind and thereby interfere withautomatic starting when use is next attempted.

In order to insure reliableautomatic starting, it 'will be obvious that the sprayer must be so constructed'that the torque lexerted by the `flow of liquid through it will be suflicient to overcome the severestresistance to starting which may beencountered. Because of the fact, however, that the torque required to maintain rotation of the sprayer at the proper speed after it is once set in motion is considerably less thanfthe torquey required to'start theY sprayer from rest,4 the con- Vtive operation.

subject to variations, which cause tinued application of the -initial starting ytorque causes the sprayer to race at an excessive speed once. it is set in motion, with the result `that'the effective range or radius of discharge isunde'- sirably reduced. It will be understood that the :16u distancey to which the spray is discharged de-A creases as the speed vof rotation of the sprayeris increased, and consequently, for most efficient operation, itis desirable to limit the speedfof rotation. For example, sprayers such as y are to adapted to atomize the liquid into a'suflici'entl'y nely divided fog-like mist for the `greenhouse .work referred to should preferably not be rotated more than `8` or 12 R. P. M. for most effec- On the other hand, if the sprayer be sofconstructed that the rotative force exerted by the liquid passing through it is only just sufficient to maintain the sprayer in operation at the proper speed, such force frequently will 'not'be suicient :75 to start the sprayer from rest. `Moreover, the liquid pressure in the supply mains is frequently a corresponding variationin the rotative energy supplied by 1 the liquid passing through the sprayer, which #so mayfcause the sprayer to stop or run too slow unless the sprayer is constructed to insure a torque in excess of ordinary running requirements.Y

Itis the general object of the present invention to provide a rotary sprayer operable bythe flow of liquid therethrough which can be depended upon for automatic starting and which,in operation, willrotate at a selected and uniform. speed.

More specifically, it is an` object' to provide a rotary sprayer constructed. to receive suiiicient op vtorqueby the'energy'of the liquid passingitherethrough to insure automatic starting, andV having a suitable speed governor-associated therewith `which will come into play as the sprayeraccelerates to limit the maximumspeedof rotationof g5 the sprayer.

It is also an object to provide a rotarysprayer 'with a speed governing device comprising an air .foil o'r vane mounted for rotation about `the rotathe sprayer and normally held edgetipo tivek axis of wise toits directionof travel, but swingable broadside to its path of; travelunder the influence of centrifugall force to provide sufficient air resistance to limit the rotative speedof ,the sprayer..V

A further object of the invention isV to provide 'T05 a rotarysprayer with adischarge nozzle or knozzles whichA may be angularly adjusted to vary 7.the direction of discharge `"therefrom and theresulting reactive torque produced by said discharge,

together with asuitable speed governing'inechafl 1Q :mayfinolude an air nism which may be adjusted to vary its limiting effect upon the rotation of the sprayer.

Another object is to provide a rotary sprayer with a supplementary discharge nozzle mounted for universal movement whereby its discharge may be directedin any direction desired.

Additional objects and advantages will become apparentas thev description proceeds in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a rotary sprayer constructed in accordance with the present :in-.-

vention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the sprayershownfin Figure 1.

line 3 3 of Figure 2, somewhat larger scale.

1n the illustrated embodiment', the sprayer en cludes a hollow distributor head 1 carrying-the.

outwardly projecting pipes 2 which form liquid distributingfarms @through Whichtheliqudpasses :imm the'zfirrterior. of: the :distributor head :to the fspray ziiozzles z-B :mounted on the outer sends of the arms andatozthe intermedi-atefspraynozzle-1i.y The sprayer mayfbe `supplied'.withCliquid'zfroni-,aisupply pipe .5feommunicatingwith-.thefinteriorrofthe ,distributorihead and/upon. hich:said distributor headiis rotatably. journaled.. 'A retainingpring '6 fscrewed to -the lower rendofj `the distributorihead serves to `.held.a-,suitable packing in place *within fthe dread; in a manner well known ,infthe :art, .to preventzleakage.

The spray fnozzles :3 j are .adjustably ,mounted on theaoutersends ,of theearmsbyfpairs Vof elbow pipes '7 and 8 secured together by screwandthread engagement :so that: the lnozzles 3 lmay beftnrned Vatoany .desired angle with-:respect tothe ;arms12.

:As:ithe-meacztonaryszforce fsuppliedby "the Eliquid discharged from ith'e ,nozzles fsupplies fthemotive lpowerforfrotating ithezsprayer, .itw-ill he :seen-,that :by adjustingthe angularity .fof :the 'nozzles with respect; to dihezanmsjthe torque tapplied tothe sprayer amaiyA abe icorrespondingly lvaried :according `to the diaree required to .insureiautomatic and immedlatestarting.-

,As-Thereinbefore .explained,`-when Athe nozzles vare :setto `fproduce La sufoientioreactionary force :to insure-thatzit will y.overcome any sticking .or bind- :ing which may occur between the :head l :andthe lsuppaxrting pipe f5-upon which vitis journaled, fas 7wellias=the=inertiaof the sprayer itself, and result in-immediate `andv certain==automatc starting :of thepsprayer lwhen liquid'is-:suppliedvto it,the fre- 'su'lting:speedlfofcrotation of Ifthe'fsprayer, -.once it isv started iin operation; may l.be so rapid Eas `to .1m- -dulylimit the range or radins-to which the liquid y-isfdisolmn'ged:

"In'orderito limitthe .rotation of the sprayerto the desired speed 'and insure `uniiorrnityof rota- '.tivespeed irrespective offliquid'pressure variations, a speed governing device is providedwhich iloilor vane V19 mounted upon one ;o thearmsiZ for.rotation'therewithtabout'the rotativeaxisQof the sprayer. AIndshe device shown,

the dil 9 'ismadeupfof a rectangular piece of.

'so as to eause'itto swing outwardly toward-aposttion broadside to its path of travel, under the iniiuence of centrifugal force.

The rod 10 is secured to and projects upwardly from the upper section of a split clamp 13 firmly secured in place on the arm 2 by bolts 14 passing through the ears 15 of the clamping sections and provided with inuts 16. kOne of the bolts 14 is extended as shown 4to form a stop 17 against which the foil 9 normally rests.

A bracket 18 has one end bent around the arm '2,fand is clamped to the arm by a bolt and nut 19 and isvprovided with a plurality of holes 20 into encor-which is hooked one end of a coil spring 21, the other end of the spring being hooked through ne ofta-serieszof .holes 22 along the lower edge of the airirfoil :9,wso,:that the spring normally holds the foilagainst ,the stop 17 in edgewise position to `its'direction"oftravel where it offers the leastV air resistance. As may be seen, the tension of the spring 21 may be adjusted as desired by hooking its .ends throughanyof lthe holes 2.0 'and 22, or by; shifting :the bracket 1'8to ,a :difierentzposition Lon fthe arm 2,' I.which may be .done-'after loosening the clamping bolt and nut 19.

fin some instances litlnay be desirable to proy.

desirable becausewol""thev resulting reduction in i' the reactive itoruue produced: Lby, the. sprays. Sometimes, also, it may Abe :desirable to direct 'a Sie portionv o-the f-spray downwardStor :more effective v :application 'to lovverA rpartsvof 'theiplants for to small lplantsbeneath the sprayer.

Agaimwhere rotary sprayers :are utilized vgreenhouses-1-or controlling tempera-*ture .according to the fmethod .described in lthe patentr` above referreditd 1in which the lsprayersare operated to ll'lfthe greenhousewithf-anely divided lfogelike mist of cooling liquid, itmay'be desirable Y,to projectl a,l pa-rt'llof 'the spray vin an Iupward ydirection to `insurerapid and effective filling oli-the greenhouse Witlithe'mist. l

For'such purposes, the fsprayer may be Aprovided with =an auxiliary nozzle 4 which .is rimunted intermediate tlfielength-o'f `-one of the larms .'-2 by nmeans fof a pairffofy elbow pipes 23 in screw `threadedengagement with each otherpthe inner xelbow lbeingsorewed onto` a nipple 24 Aprojecting from the V-'a'r'1'ni2. This #construction provides a `universal' -rnountingv for Athe auxiliary' .nozzle 4, wherebyitcan bevi-adjusted to discharge inany direction desired, thusaugmenting the discharge "beunderstood that although .only `one auxiliary vnozzleis illustrated, `others may be provided as desired; `eitlfier on lthe vsame arm or ori-the other one.-v Y. w

" Thej'operation yofthe sprayer-will now beapparent; The liquid to be sprayed is supplied .to ltheiifiteriorwof lthe chambered distributor head ror-n'ithe pipe 5 and-passes through the arms 2 to the nozzles 3 kand 4, yfrom whenceit issue's iin' the form of a Isprayof lany desired neness, :according to the pressure of Athe 'liquidA :andthe size-ofthe 'nozzle-'openings The nozzles '3 may :be set vat whatever angle required Lto. supplyf'srrfcent Vtlirque -to insure spromptfandwautomatic starting,

and the auxiliary nozzle 4 may be adjusted to any desired position to increase the area of coverage or to increase the torque applied to the sprayer. At the lower speeds, the air foil 9 is held by the spring 21 against the stop 17 in edgewise relation to its path of travel, where it offers little or no air resistance, but as the sprayer accelerates the air foil is caused to swing outwardy under the influence of centrifugal force toward a position broadside to its path of travel, thereby increasing its air resistance and retarding the rotation of the sprayer so as to limit its rotation to a proper and uniform speed. By suitably adjusting either or both the spring 2l and the angularity of the nozzles 3 a very delicate control over the maximum speed of rotation may be had, as will be apparent.

Having now described my invention, it will be understood that various changes and modifications may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of, or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention, and I deem myself entitled to all such Variations and modifications as fall within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is: y

l. In a rotary sprayer operable by the iiow of liquid therethrough, a spraying assembly including a rotatably mounted chambered distributor head, a liquid distributing arm projecting outwardly from said head, and a liquid discharge nozzle carried by said arm, an air foil associated with said assembly for rotation therewith around its rotative axis and mounted for swinging movement broadside to its path of travel under the influence of centrifugal force to retard the rotative speed of said assembly, and yieldable means for urging said air foil into a normal position edgewise to its direction of travel.

2. In a rotary sprayer operable by the ilow of liquid therethrough and having a rotatably mounted chambered distributor head, and liquid distributing and discharge means projecting outwardly from said head, a swingably mounted air foil associated with said sprayer for rotation therewith around its rotative axis, and yieldable means for normally holding said air foil in a position t-o oier a minimum of air resistance, but permitting said air foil to swing outwardly under the inuence of centrifugal force toward a position of maximum air resistance.

3. In a rotary sprayer operable by the ow of liquid therethrough, a liquid supplypipe, a chambered distributor head rotatably journaled thereon, a liquid distributing arm projecting outwardly from said head, a liquid discharge nozzle on said arm, an air foil mounted on said arm for swinging movement broadside to its path of travel under the influence of centrifugalforceto retard the rotative speed of said sprayer, and yieldable means interconnecting said air foil and arm for urging said air foil into a normal position edgewise to its direction of travel. Y

4. In a rotary sprayer, a liquid supply pipe, a chambered distributor head rotatably journaled thereon, a liquid distributing arm projecting outwardly from said head, a liquid discharge nozzle carried by said arm from which issuing liquid produces a reactive torque sufcient to rotate said head at an excessive speed, a plane surfaced air vane mounted on said arm for swinging movement broadside to its path of travel under the iniiuence of centrifugal force to retard the rotative speed of said sprayer, and yieldable means interconnecting said Vane and arm for urging said vane into a normal position edgewise to its direction of travel. Y

5. In a rotary sprayer operable by the ow of liquid therethrough, a spraying assembly including a rotatably mounted chambered distributor head, a liquid distributing arm projecting outwardly from said head, and a liquid discharge nozzle carried by said arm, a plane surfaced air vane associated with said assembly for rotation therewith around its rotative axis, said air vane being swingable about a vertical axis and having a weighted outer end to assist in swinging the vane broadside to its pathl of travel under the iniiuence of centrifugal force to retard the rotative speed o said assembly, and yieldable means for urging said air vane into a normal position edgewise to its direction of travel.

6. In a rotary sprayer operable by the flow of liquid therethrough, a spraying assembly including a rotatably mounted chambered distributor head, a liquid distributing arm projecting outwardly from said head, and a liquid discharge nozzle carried by said arm, a plane surfaced air foil mounted on said arm for rotation therewith and for swinging movement about a vertical axis, said air foil having a weighted outer end to assist in swinging the foil broadside to its vpath of travel under the influence of centrifugal force to retard the rotative speed of said assembly, and yieldable means for urging said air foil into a normal position edgewise to its direction of travel.

7; In a rotary sprayer, a spraying assembly including a rotatably mounted chambered distributor head, a liquid distributing arm projecting outwardly from said head, and a liquid discharge nozzle adjustably mounted on said arm to permit variation of its direction of discharge and the resulting yreactive torque produced by said discharge, an air foil associated with said assembly for rotation therewith around its rotative axis,v

and mounted for swinging movement broadside to its path-of travel under the iniiuence of centrifugal force to retard the rotative speed of said assembly, yieldable means for urging said air foil into a normal position edgewise to its direction of travel, and means for Varying the yieldability of said yieldable means.

8. In arotary sprayer, a liquid supply pipe, a chambered distributor head rotatably journaled thereon, a liquid distributing arm projecting outwardly from said head, a liquiddischarge nozzle adjustably mounted on said arm to permit variation of its direction of discharge and the resulting reactive torque 'produced by said discharge, a plane surfaced air vane mounted on said arm for swinging movement broadside to its path of travel under the influence of centrifugal force to retard the rotative speed of said sprayer, yieldable means for urging said air vane into a normal position Varying the yieldability of said yieldable means.

HARRY C. LAssEN. 

